Compliance & Regulatory Issues

It has been a rough stretch in Washington for for-profit higher education. The Obama administration has fought to tighten regulations linking student aid to graduates' "gainful employment" prospects. Consumer advocacy groups have spotlighted the debt load that often comes unaccompanied by diplomas. Hollister Petraeus, the wife of David Patraeus, has been leading a crusade against for-profit schools that pursue veterans (and their lucrative G.I. benefits).

For-profit colleges have a lot of accusatory fingers pointing in their direction, mostly from politicians and commentators looking for someone to blame for soaring levels of student debt.

But are for-profits indeed fatally flawed diploma mills? Or convenient scapegoats?

In Indiana, this debate has special significance. The state's student default rate is one of the nation's highest -- and Congress has singled out for-profit universities as a source for these high rates.

Nationally, the discussion over whether for-profit degrees are affordable -- or even worth the cost -- is far from over.

By Kevin Kuzma, Online Editor

The story is a good one and, to this point, it's largely gone untold.

The main characters are buried by tremendous odds, caused either by circumstance, unfortunate decision making, or both. Wanting nothing more than to make decent lives for themselves, they decide to find a way out from waiting tables, tending bar, and sweeping up. But first they have to make their way through a dark tunnel of personal struggle and, sometimes, fear. At the risk of spoiling the ending, somehow, they find the strength to make something of a life that sometimes not even their families believe in.

Kevin Kuzma, Editor

Rolling up what has mostly seemed like an "unwelcome mat" to for-profit schools, the U. S. Department of Education (DOE) opened its doors to speakers from all sectors of higher education at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. yesterday for a series of public hearings on its "gainful employment" rule.

Since 2009, when the DOE and the career college sector were abuzz with the very first mention of the controversial “gainful employment” proposal, Career College Central has covered every high and low on the “gainful employment" roller coaster ride.

Here, we’ve gathered all the pertinent news articles, updates, opinions and blogs we’ve posted over the last year into one convenient archive. Take the time to browse through the collection and see how the perception of “gainful employment” has shifted since its inception.

Since Sept. 9, 2009, when the Department of Education (DOE) first published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intent to establish negotiated rulemaking committees to discuss proposed regulations under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the career college sector has been on the edges of our seats. Waiting to see what the outcome of the negotiations would mean for our sector has been scary, stressful and, at times, frustrating.

Some schools have several approval boards governing their operations. So how do you know that each and every person on staff is complying with all the standards? It’s a challenge. School owners tell us the secret is in the Operations Manuals. These are manuals that were carefully crafted to ensure every action meets standards. They are manuals that are persistently kept up-to-date with everyone getting a copy and explanation of changes. These can be paper notebooks. Ugh.  Or better yet, integrated into your student and school record management systems. Besides helping to ensure compliance, it allows for cross training of employees. 

What’s the secret at your school?

From CCA
This special webcast features Michael Hershman, President and CEO of The Fairfax Group, a global investigation and security consulting firm. continue article and more information at Career.org »

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Sherry Mastrostefano Gray of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville will be presenting an overview of the ongoing legal and regulatory activities along with tips for ... continue article at Career.org »

From CCA
The deadline for institutions to submit all corrections to FISAP data and resolution of edits is ... continue article at Career.org »